Case Study: The Frick Collection achieves centralized conservation records and streamlined reporting with Gallery Systems' TMS Conservation Studio

Preparing for Implementing Conservation Software

The Frick Collection, a Gilded Age mansion housing more than 1,500 paintings, objects, and furniture, needed to centralize and standardize conservation records so conservators, curators, registrars and operations staff could easily access treatment and condition histories. Although they were already using The Museum System (TMS), limitations in the conservation fields forced them to rely on FileMaker and Word for larger surveys and reports. To solve this, The Frick engaged Gallery Systems and adopted TMS Conservation Studio.

Gallery Systems implemented TMS Conservation Studio integrated with the Frick’s existing TMS, using migration mapping, multiple test migrations, and configurable features—projects, templates, checkboxes and a report-numbering system—to standardize data entry and enable batch report creation. The new system reduced repetitive entry, sped user onboarding, and made conservation data centrally searchable and reportable; the Frick has already used it for institution-wide work such as a silver-object survey and to prepare for upcoming moves, exhibitions, and loans.

The Frick Collection

Julia Day

Conservator